In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we sit down with one of the most influential voices in the hobby—Geoff Wilson—to talk honestly about something most people still dance around: what happens when the modern hobby starts behaving like a casino, and what responsibility industry leaders have to help collectors #RipResponsibly.

Geoff Wilson, founder of Sports Card Investor, CardsHQ, and Market Movers, has been at the center of the modern hobby boom—content, data, live-selling, and everything in between. After Alyx appeared on The Geoff Wilson Show earlier this year to discuss compulsive collecting and gambling-like mechanics in the hobby, Geoff made a public commitment to make changes to how CardsHQ approaches breaking and to support Collectors MD’s mission. He and his team are now among the first adopters of the #RipResponsibly campaign rolling out across the hobby.

Together, Alyx and Geoff unpack the real tensions underneath today’s Fanatics Era of collecting: How breaking formats, countdown timers, manufactured scarcity, and high-velocity apps can tilt from entertainment into something that looks and feels a lot like gambling. They explore why so many collectors end up overspending, chasing losses, or feeling ashamed—and why it’s not just about personal responsibility when the entire environment is engineered to keep you chasing that next hit.

This conversation goes beyond critique—it’s about solutions. Alyx and Geoff dig into what guardrails could actually look like in practice: responsible-ripping messaging, cool-off tools, cultural shifts in how breakers talk to their communities, and how platforms and creators can normalize slowing down, setting limits, and walking away. They also talk openly about criticism, partnership, and why bringing someone like Geoff into this work isn’t selling out—it’s a chance to change the system from the inside.

You’ll hear:

• Why Geoff felt compelled to say “yes” to #RipResponsibly
• How CardsHQ is beginning to fold harm-reduction thinking into their breaking
• Where the hobby’s design overlaps with gambling and gaming—especially for kids and vulnerable collectors
• What a more collector-safe live-selling ecosystem could look like in the next few years
• How Collectors MD is aiming to be the “800-GAMBLER of collecting”—a soft landing place between “I’m just a collector” and “I need formal help”

This episode points toward a healthier future for the hobby—one where leaders with reach step up, collectors feel less alone, and movements like Collectors MD provide education, peer support, and warm handoffs to professional help when needed.

Whether you’re a breaker, platform operator, shop owner, longtime collector, or someone who has quietly wondered if this has gone too far, this conversation offers honesty, nuance, and a roadmap for what intentional collecting could look like—at scale.

Subscribe, share, and join the movement toward a hobby where passion comes before profit, and people come before pulls.

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:

Website: collectorsmd.com

Socials: hopp.bio/collectorsmd

Weekly Meeting Sign-Up: bit.ly/45koiMX

Contact: info@collectorsmd.com

YouTube: ‪@collectorsmd

Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Geoff Wilson, SCI, CardsHQ, & MarketMovers:

Website: sportscardinvestor.com | cardshq.com | marketmoversapp.com/collectorsmd

YouTube: ‪@itsgeoffwilson‬ | ‪@SportsCardInvestor‬ | ‪@CardsHQShop‬ | ‪@MarketMovers‬

Instagram: @itsgeoffwilson | @sportscardinvestor | @cardshqshop | @marketmoversapp

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we tackle one of the most urgent and uncomfortable realities facing today’s hobby: how misinformation, pressure tactics, and high-speed live-selling environments are reshaping the collector experience—and why so many people are getting hurt in the process.

Our guest, Jack Miller (JBMcards), has emerged as a trusted voice calling out deceptive practices in the live-selling space. Jack recently posted a viral clip showing a well-known Whatnot seller falsely claiming a $2,000 “last sale” on a Yoshinobu Yamamoto PSA 9—when the true comp was closer to $300. The card was immediately run in a 10-second sudden-death auction, ultimately selling for more than double its real value while the buyer was congratulated for “getting a steal”.

Together, Alyx and Jack break down exactly what happened—and why it matters far beyond one clip. They examine how countdown timers, hype-driven chat, selective data, and fabricated comps create environments where truth can’t keep up with urgency. They explore why buyers are so vulnerable in these moments, how platforms reward speed over accuracy, and how easy it is for entertainment to cross the line into exploitation.

This conversation goes deeper than the clip itself. Alyx and Jack unpack the structural issues that enable manipulation: the misuse of eBay “Best Offer” data, how platforms incentivize theatrics, the psychology behind FOMO bidding, and the erosion of trust when sellers weaponize half-truths in high-pressure settings. Jack offers rare insight from both sides—as someone who buys and sells on these platforms, and as someone who understands how quickly the line between enthusiasm and harm can blur.

They also examine why these discussions are so often dismissed in the hobby. Why do transparency and accountability get treated as “too serious”? Why do bad actors keep getting rewarded? And what will it take to build systems that protect collectors rather than prey on them?

This episode points toward a healthier future—one where sellers embrace responsibility, platforms adopt guardrails, collectors feel empowered to slow down, and community-led movements like Collectors MD provide education, support, and harm-reduction resources for those who need it.

Whether you’re a live-stream buyer, a seller, a hobby veteran, or someone who has felt burned by impulse-driven platforms, this episode brings clarity, honesty, and a blueprint for what ethical selling could—and should—look like.

Subscribe, share, and join the movement toward intentional collecting—because the truth isn’t just protection. It’s power.

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:

Website: collectorsmd.com

Socials: hopp.bio/collectorsmd

Weekly Meeting Sign-Up: bit.ly/45koiMX

Contact: info@collectorsmd.com

YouTube: ‪@collectorsmd

Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Jack Miller:

Instagram: @JBMcards

X: @JBMcards

#CollectorsMD | #JBMcards | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, we dive into one of the most pressing and often avoided questions in the modern hobby—why does a space built on nostalgia, community, and joy so often drift into manipulation, exhaustion, and financial harm?

Our guest, Charles Howard (@CollectorCharles), is one of the hobby’s clearest and most respected voices on market behavior, hype cycles, grading inconsistencies, and the underlying mechanics that shape collector psychology. Through his channel and commentary, Charles has made a name for himself by cutting through industry noise, challenging harmful narratives, and unpacking how modern collecting culture pushes people toward risk without them even realizing it.

Together, Alyx and Charles examine the uncomfortable realities many collectors feel but rarely articulate: the manufactured hype behind new releases, how price floors and hidden volume shape perceived value, the ways breaking formats mimic casino mechanics, and why scandals never seem to create real accountability. They explore how content creators, platforms, and market makers influence collector behavior—and how easy it is for excitement to transform into pressure, chasing, or burnout.

The conversation also revisits the recent episode with Professor Sports Cards, using that moment as a lens to highlight how often serious issues are minimized, laughed off, or dismissed as “too heavy” for hobby content. Charles offers a deeper, clearer breakdown of why these subjects matter—and why collectors deserve transparency, guardrails, and honest discussion rather than constant highlight reels.

This episode points toward a healthier future for the hobby: one built on awareness instead of confusion, intention instead of impulse, and accountability instead of silence. Charles shares what needs to change structurally, what collectors can do individually, and how community-led movements like Collectors MD can help reduce harm while keeping the joy alive.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a returning hobbyist, a content creator, or someone trying to understand why the hobby feels so different today, this episode offers clarity, grounded insight, and a path forward that puts people—not hype—at the center.

Subscribe, share, and join the movement toward intentional collecting—because understanding the system is the first step toward reclaiming control.

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:

Website: collectorsmd.com

Socials: hopp.bio/collectorsmd

Weekly Meeting Sign-Up: bit.ly/45koiMX

Contact: info@collectorsmd.com

YouTube: ‪@collectorsmd

Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Charles Howard:

YouTube: ‪@CollectorCharles‬

Instagram: @collectcharles

#CollectorsMD | #CollectorCharles | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly